Hollywood Rises Above Wildfires with Record-Breaking Oscar Nominations

Hollywood Resilient Amid Fires, Rallies Behind “Emilia Pérez” in Oscar Nominations

In the wake of devastating wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles and impacted the heart of the movie industry, Hollywood showed resilience with a strong showing for Netflix’s Emilia Pérez. The trans identity narco-musical led the Oscar nominations on Thursday with a record-breaking 13 nods, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, who made history as the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar. The film also secured nominations for Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Original Screenplay, two song nominations, and a supporting performance from Zoe Saldaña.

“This recognition is a celebration of the global world we live in,” Audiard commented in a statement, emphasizing the film’s universal appeal.

Emilia Pérez became the most nominated non-English language film ever, surpassing Netflix’s previous contender, Roma, which garnered 10 nominations. With 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez joins an elite group of films, including All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land, which scored more nominations in Academy Awards history.

“Wicked” and “The Brutalist” Garner Multiple Nominations

The musical Wicked, based on the beloved Broadway adaptation, also performed strongly, securing 10 nominations, including Best Picture and acting nods for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Similarly, Brady Corbet’s postwar epic The Brutalist, released by A24, earned 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones received acting nominations for their standout performances in the film.

Surprising Entries and Unexpected Contenders

In this wide-open Oscar race, several films and performances exceeded expectations. The Brazilian film I’m Still Here, a powerful depiction of political resistance during Brazil’s military dictatorship, landed a Best Actress nomination for Fernanda Torres. Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross, earned praise for its inventive first-person perspective, prompting critical discourse about race and pain in American cinema.

Ross, watching the nominations in Providence, Rhode Island, said, “This film forces a subjective response. It’s a film built for discourse.”

Surprises also came in the Best Picture race, where The Apprentice – a film about the formative years of Donald Trump – earned a pair of nominations for Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Strong, playing Trump’s mentor Roy Cohn, expressed complicated emotions about his role, particularly in light of Trump’s divisive legacy. “It was the role of a lifetime,” Strong said, “but his legacy is playing out in real-time in frightening ways.”

Notable Exclusions and Highly Competitive Categories

In the Best Actor category, Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) joined Stan and Brody, while Daniel Craig, widely praised for his un-James Bond performance in Queer, was notably absent.

Best Actress proved to be one of the most competitive categories of the year, with Demi Moore, Karla Sofía Gascón, Fernanda Torres, Cynthia Erivo, and Mikey Madison (from Anora) making the cut. The category notably excluded stars like Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) and Nicole Kidman (Babygirl).

In the Best Director race, Coralie Fargeat, the filmmaker behind The Substance, broke through the all-male lineup, which included Sean Baker (Anora), Corbet, Audiard, and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown).

Oscars Push Ahead Despite Ongoing Wildfires

Originally scheduled for January 17, the Oscar nominations were delayed twice due to the wildfires that began on January 7, devastating parts of Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Despite calls to cancel the ceremony, the Academy has chosen to move forward, with March 2 set for the awards show. Academy leaders have emphasized the importance of the Oscars in supporting Los Angeles’ economy and as a symbol of resilience during these challenging times.

“We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry,” said Bill Kramer, Academy CEO, and Janet Yang, President of the Academy, in a statement.

Blockbusters Miss the Mark, But Indie Films Shine

This year’s nominations reflect the unpredictable state of Hollywood. While big-budget blockbusters like Wicked and Dune: Part Two performed well, other high-grossing films like Deadpool and Wolverine and Inside Out 2 missed out on nominations. Notably, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez has not been one of the platform’s top watches, but its record-breaking nominations indicate that streaming services are still making their mark.

Several films that were initially declined by distributors, including The Apprentice and the documentary No Other Land, found unexpected success, earning Oscar recognition despite their uncertain release paths.

Unlike last year, when Oppenheimer dominated, the 2024 Oscar race is wide open, with The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Anora, Conclave, and Wicked all in the running for Best Picture. The next few weeks will be crucial as the film industry prepares for the awards ceremony in March.

This year’s Oscars will be a testament to Hollywood’s resilience, creativity, and optimism, even as it deals with ongoing challenges, including the aftermath of wildfires and political turbulence. With a diverse slate of nominees across genres and formats, this year’s ceremony promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory.

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